BUILDING THE FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE IN HEART FAILURE NURSING

This column contains the presidential address presented during the Third Annual Meeting of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses on June 28, 2007, in San Diego, California, titled "Building the Foundation of Excellence in Heart Failure Nursing."     

Influence on binding of third-order torque to second-order angulation

Using an earlier model, which described the critical contact angle for binding from second-order angulation alone, a more generalized model is derived that combines the effects of angulation and torque. From this vantage point, the onset of binding is evaluated for 3 scenarios: second-order angulation alone, third-order torque only, and a combination of second-order angulation and third-order torque. These scenarios are detailed by plotting the critical contact angle for binding against the torque angle as a function of 10 wire dimensions (16 x 16, 16 x 22, 17 x 17, 17 x 22, 17 x 25, 18 x 18, 18 x 22, 18 x 25, 19 x 25, and 21 x 25 mil), 4 bracket widths (70, 100, 130, and 160 mil), and 4 bracket slots (18, 20.5, 22, and 24.5 mil). From these plots, we learn that each wire base dimension (eg, an 18-mil base as found in 18 x 18-mil, 18 x 22-mil and 18 x 25-mil archwires) has a common maximum critical contact angle for binding. Moreover, each wire-slot combination has a common maximum torque angle, which is independent of bracket width. Finally, we learn that archwire-bracket combinations that use a metric 0.5-mm slot might have some advantages with regard to torquing--given the current philosophy that light, continuous forces are more favorable.     

Über die Entstehung und die Bedeutung der Bogenförmigen ST-Strecke,Sowie der Sog. Zwischenzacke und Ihren Zusammenhang mit der S-Achse

Zusammenfassung Die bogenförmige ST-Strecke kommt häufig, in etwa 12%der Fälle, und die Zwischenzacke selten, in 5der Fälle eines nichtausgewählten Krankenmaterials, vor. Sowohl die Entstehungsursache der bogenförmigen ST-Strecke als der Kischschen Zwischenzacke liegt in der stärkeren oder schwächeren Rechts- oder Linksdeviation der S-Achse. Die Richtung und der Grad der S-Achsendeviation wird es also bestimmen, in wie vielen und welcher Einthovenschen Ableitung die bogenförmige ST-Strecke bzw. die Zwischenzacke notwendigerweise auftreten muß. Bei S-Achsenstellungen zwischen –90°und –30°wird die ST-Strecke in Ableitung I, bei S-Achsenstellungen zwischen –30°und +30°in der I. und II., zwischen +30°und +90°in der I., II., III., zwischen +90°und +150°in der II., III. und bei den Achsenstellungen zwischen +150°und –150°in der III. Einthovenschen Ableitung bogenförmig sein. Die klinische Bedeutung der bogenförmigen ST-Strecke ist gleich mit der klinischen Bedeutung der S-Achsendeviation. Bei dem Vergleich des Herzbefundes der Kranken mit der elektrischen S-Achsenstellung können folgende Feststellungen gemacht werden: Geringergradige Linksdeviation der S-Achse, d. h. bogenförmiges ST _I sowie geringergradige Rechtsdeviation der S-Achse, d. h. ST_III kann praktisch bei pathologischem Herzbefund nicht verwertet werden. Stärkere Links- bzw. Rechtsdeviation der S-Achse, d. h. ST_I und_II bzw. ST_II und_III können im allgemeinen ebenfalls nicht verwertet werden, es ist jedoch wahrscheinlich, daß sie schon einen Übergang zu den pathologischen Befunden bilden. Während jene starken S-Achsendeviationen, wo schon in allen drei Ableitungen bogenförmiges ST besteht, meistens für das Zeichen der myokardialen Läsion betrachtet werden sollen, und zwar in erster Linie dann, wenn die positive S-Zacke in oder neben dem absteigenden Schenkel der R-Zacke gut wahrnehmbar ist.     

Adipose tissue and liver lipid metabolism in obese children: role of the body mass index and the presence of acanthosis nigricans.

AIMS: The aims of our study were to determine if insulin resistance is associated with increased plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol, 3-hydroxybutyrate and triglycerides in obese children. We also studied whether the presence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) led to further alterations in the above parameters. METHODS: A total of 101 children were studied on their first visit to the paediatric endocrine clinic. Seventy-four were obese, 30 of them with AN. The remaining 27 were non-obese healthy children (control group). NEFAs, glycerol, triglycerides, 3-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, leptin, adiponectin and glucose were determined in blood samples obtained after overnight fasting. The insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated following the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Data from the three groups were compared using appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: No differences in age, sex ratio and pubertal stage were observed among the three groups. The group of children with the highest body mass index (BMI) showed higher plasma levels of insulin and leptin, higher IRI and lower plasma levels of adiponectin. As insulin and IRI increased, NEFA and 3-hydroxybutyrate decreased and triglycerides increased. When obese children were categorized by BMI, the presence of AN further exacerbated these differences. CONCLUSIONS: In obese children, insulin resistance is associated with plasma lipid alterations suggestive of both decreased adipose tissue lipolysis and hepatic beta-oxidation and increased hepatic synthesis of triglycerides. Such a metabolic condition may facilitate fat storage and hinder weight loss.